Egypt Itinerary - Do you Approve?
 

I will be going to Egypt next week and need to be sure I am budgeting my time wisely. It's probably the only time I will ever go, so I want to see as much as I can, but not go overboard where I am in a different city every day.
I am planning on spending 3 days in Cairo on arrival. Then take an overnight train to Aswan, spend 2 days there (which includes a day trip to Abu Simbel on the 2nd day). Then early the 3rd morning I will catch a train to Luxor, spend the day, the night and all of the next day. Take the over night train back to Cairo and spend one more day there before flying home the day after that.
Is this too much time in Cairo? Should I spend one less day there and an extra day in Luxor? I would like to see both temples at Luxor as well as the valley of the kings and other sights on the West Bank - preferably in one day.
Please advise.
Thanks!
Matt

I'd prefer an extra day in Luxor, but you can decide when you're there. Maybe leave Cairo a day early, so you can use that day in Luxor if you need it, and if not, head back to Cairo a day early. There's plenty to keep you busy for weeks in both places.

The further south you go, the hotter it gets. To do the West Bank Valley of Kings & Queens is best done very early morning, as by 9am the temps can reach 90-degrees. It's not unusual for visitors to get here by 6am for a few hours, then off to somewhere out of the brutal sun and heat.

When returning to the East Bank Luxor, you can visit the temples, but again, it's very hot mid-day. You'll need a break, before returning late afternoon (5pm).

So, taking the heat into consideration, I'd add a day to Luxor.

It will also be very hot at Abu Simbel. Presume as you mention a day-trip, you'll be getting to AS overland from Aswan.

Be prepared everywhere with plenty of bottled water, readily available at reasonable prices. Be sure the bottles are factory sealed (not broken).

We were in Luxor, Aswan, Cairo--last November 24--it will not be that hot. It will be the highest in the 80s. We found the temples delightful from 12:00 to 2:00 when all the tour groups were eating lunch. Also, the tombs & temples are operating on Winter schedule & you will not find the ticket booths open at 6:00.

I would definitely spend a little longer in Luxor. Valley of The Kings, Valley of the Queens, Tombs of the Nobles, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple. Sorry, you're not going to do that in one day.

Thanks for your replies. I am currently planning on 2 days in Luxor, one day for the East Bank (Karnak and Luxor Temples and wandering around) and one day for the West Bank - Valley of the Kings and other stuff...the more I hear about it, the more it sounds like I should budget and extra day for Luxor...

Having just returned a little less than a month ago, I would increase both a day in Aswan and a day in Luxor, and cut back Cairo to 2 days. We were in Aswan for almost 2 days and I wished we could have stayed a third...